Rail-joint.



E. W. GORSUGH.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1908. 927,650, Patented July 13, 1909.

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1:. W. GORSUGH.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1908.

Patented July 13, 1909. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. W. G-ORSUCH.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1908. 927,650, Patented July 13, 1909. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

f g f Q Z6 9 27 d/ 20 6 24 -Zd' a 2 :98 7 ea Q swueutm/ wtuaoo EDWIN W. GORSUCH, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1909.

Application filed my 27, 1968. Serial No. 435,268.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, EDWIN W. GoRsUoH,a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Balti more city, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Rail-Joints; and I, dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exabtdescription of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and usethe same. 2 2

This invention relates to improvements in rail joints, and particularly to insulated joints, and has foran object the provision of insulation placed between the abutting, ends of rails, and means for holding the rails in juxtaposition. i i.

Another object in view is the provisionof an insulated joint com risinginsulation positioned between the a utting ends of rails, fish plates secured tothe rails, and means for holding the fish plates in position, l

I A still further ,ob'ect of the invention is the provision of an insulatedjoint arranged with diagonally positioned bolts arranged to hold the abutting ends of rails together and to resist any creeping action of the rail.

With these and other objects in vi ,W, the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed. I l

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan viewof. a joint formedaccording to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a section through Fig,, lapproximately on line 2 2. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one-halt of the joint shown in Fig. 1, the insulationbeingre moved. 4 is a sectionthroughFig. 1 on line 44. Fig. 5 is atop plan view of a slightly modified form of the structure shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a further modified form of the structure shown in Fig. 1. v I

Referring to thedrawing by numerals, 1 and 2 indicate rails of any desiredstructure having their ends slightly spacedin order to accommodate an insulating. block 3 which may be of any, desired insulating material, as rubber or fiber. Insulating block 3 is preferably made to fit tightly between the abutting ends of railsl and 2, andis held in place by bracing members 5 and 6, which are constructed of Wood, though other insulating means may be used. The bracing members Sand 6 aresecurely held in position by means of bolts 7 and S that pass through the respective railsl and 2. Ordinarily the bolts 7 and 8 are adapted to fit the holes in therails 1 and 2 through which they pass, as clearlyseenin .FigxA, though ifdesired elongated holes might, be provided in order not to bring anystrain ,upon the bracing bars 5 and 6 caused by the contraction andexpansion of the respective rails.

, Bolted to rail 1 are, plates, commonly knownas fish plates, 8 and 9, by bolts 10. and 11. A bolt 7. also passes throughthefish plates 8 and 9. A pair of fish plates 12 and 13 are bolted to rail 2 .by bolts 14; and 1,5,.together with bolt 8 as noreclearly seen in Fig. 3. As will be evident, bolts 7 andS are notadapted to act as holding means for the respective fish plates, but ,only as retaining means forthebracing means 5 and 6, though, as will be evident,- they will exert a small tendency toward binding the fish platesin position against the respective rails. The shplates 8, 9, 12 and,13 are formed with depressed portions 16, 17, 18 and 1 9, respectively, and are adapted to accommodate the heads of.bo lts 20, 21, 22 and 23..-, The abutting ends of rails l and 2, and the respective fish plates, may rest upon a single tio .or a plurality of ties as 24. and 25., ;In. either event bolts 20 and21 are. adapted to firmly hold the fish plates 12 and 13 in position upon the tie, and the fish plates in turn will hold the rail 2 in position. As clearly seen in the drawing, the bolts 20 and 21. are adapted to bepositioned so as to give alongitudinalpull against.rail,2. Bolts 22 and 23 are adapted to hold fish plates 8 and 9 in position andto give a longitudinal pullingor retaining strain upon rail 1 for holding the same in positionin order that the end ,of the same, may be held in'proximity to the end of the rail 2. By this construction.and arrangement the abuttingends of rails 1 and 2 are held properly in position, and yet are not brought into electrical communication with each other, as insulation 3 will prevent C111.- rentfrom passingat that point, and bracing members 5 and 6 will prevent current from assing therethrough, as the same are made irom wood or other insulating means. Bolts 20, 21, 22 and 23 are all arranged to pass through the wooden ties 24 and 25 and to not contact with each other, as clearly seen in Fig. 1 where it will be observed that bolts 20 and 21 are inclined outwardly, while bolts 22, and 23 are positioned in a substantially parallel plane with the rails. By this construc'tion it will not only be observed that current cannot pass one way or the other, but that the insulating means, as rubber or fiber 3, is positioned between the abutting ends of the rails, and no insulation, except the wooden ties, 24k and 25, is positioned below the rails. This arrangement presents a structure that is adapted to wear for the same length of time as the ordinary joint, because there is nothing beneath the rails to wear out and no insulating sleeves or other device upon which strain is brought.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a slightly modified form of means holding the rails together and the various parts in their correct position.

teferring more particularly to this figure, 1

and 2 indicate rails and 3 the block of insulation positioned between the abutting ends of the rails. The insulation 3 and bracing members 5 and 6 are similar to the preferred form, and also the various fish plates 8, 9, 12 and 13. Bolts 26, 27, 28 and 29 respectively pass through the respective fish plates, and also through ties 24 and 25. The bolts are adapted to firmly hold the fish plates in osition and the fish plates which are firmly olted to the rails 1 and 2, similar to the structure shown in Fig. 1, hold the rails in position. In order to positively prevent ties 2 1 and 25 from separating a strap 30' is passed partially around the ties or entirely around the ties if desired, and is secured thereto by any desired means as pins 31. Any desired number of straps 30 may be used, but usually one on each side of the joint is sufficient.

In Fig. 6 is shown a still further modified form of coupling means in which rails 1 and 2 are held in place by fish plates 8", 9", 12 and 13, the fish plates being secured to the respective rails by bolts in the same manner as set forth in regard to the preferred construction. Positioned between the abutting ends of the rails 1 and 2 is an insulating block 3 held in place by bracing members 5 and 6. The respective fish plates are firmly bolted in position by bolts 32, 33, 3% and to a block 36. The block 36 preferably is extended but ashort distance on each side of the rails 1 and 2" and is held in place by straps 3737 which are in turn rigidly secured to ties 24 and 25", and also block 36 by means of pins 3838. The straps 37-37 may be passed only partially around the ties and block 36 or entirely around the same as may be desired, and are preferably only two in number, one on each side of the respective rails being usually suflicient. By this construction and arrangement, and also by the construction and arrangement shown in Fig. 5 the ends of the respective rails are firmly held in position against lateral and longitudinal movement, and also thoroughly insulated from each other. The braces 5 and 6 in Fig. 5, and the bracing members 5 and 6" abutting ends of the rails, positively prevents any current from passing from one rail to the other. The respective ties, and also block 36 both in the modified construction and in thepreferred form must be made from wood or other non-conductor so that none of the fastening means may convey current from one rail to the other. In these two modifications the bolts are positioned substantially vertical, and in this manner obviates the necessity of positioning the same at various angles as shown in the preferred construction.

What I claim is:

1. In a rail joint, the combination with the abutting ends of rails, of a tie for supporting said rails, an insulating block positioned between said abutting ends, a pair of fish plates for each of said abutting ends, means for securing said fish plates to said rails, and a securing bolt for each of said fish plates passing diagonally through said tie, two of said securing bolts being flared outwardly and two eX- tending in a plane parallel with said rails.

2. In a rail oint, the combination with the abutting ends of rails, of a tie for supporting said rails, an insulating block positioned between the ends of said rails, a pair of fish plates for each rail, a pair of wooden strips holding said insulating block in position, means for holding said wooden strips in position, means for securing said fish plates to said rail, a depressed lug projecting from each of said fish plates, and securing means passing through said depressed lug and through said tie substantially longitudinally of said rail for holding said fish plates in position and said rail from creeping.

3. In a rail joint, the combination with the abutting ends of rails, of a plurality of fish plates secured to each of said rails, a plurality of means for holding said plates in position, means for holding the plates of one of said rails in position being positioned at an angle in respect to the means for holding the plates of the other rail said means consisting of a bolt extending entirely through said tie and having mounted on the end thereof means for locking the bolt in place, an insulating block positioned between the abutting ends of said rails, and a non-conductor secured to said rails for holding said insulating block in position.

1. In a rail joint, the combination with the abutting ends of rails, of an insulating block positioned between said rails, a tie for supporting the ends of said rails, a pair of independent fish plates for each of said rails, each pair of fish plates being separated from the other, a securing means for each of said fish plates passing diagonally through said tie with securing means engaging the lower edge of said tie for holding the respective securing means in position, and means for holding in position the insulating block positioned between said rails.

5. In a rail joint, the combination with the abutting ends of rails, a tie for supporting said rails, an insulating block positioned between said rails, means for holding said insulating block in position, a pair of independent L0 fish plates for each of said rails, means for clamping said fish plates to their respective rails, each of said iish plates being termed with a pressed out portion for reeelving a securing means, and a bolt for each of said fish plates engaging said pressed out portion of the fish plates and passing diagonally through said tie, said bolt being provided with looking and clamping means at its lower end for holding said bolt in position.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature 20 ALBERT Gr. WALKER, GRANVILLE MANsBERGER. 

